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GUIDE · HIRING A WEB DESIGNER
Finding a web designer: 7 questions to ask before you hire
For most businesses, a new website is a decision that lasts several years. Even so, the first quote to land in the inbox often wins. This guide shows how a website project works, how long it takes and which seven questions to ask a web designer before you hire. Put them to every provider, including us.
By Ardahan Asikoglu, Arokora Web Design in Homburg, Saarland, Germany · Last updated: October 2026
THE PROCESS
How a website project works
For a website with a handful of pages, two to four weeks from signing to go-live is realistic. Most of that time goes into content and approvals, not into the technical side.
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01
First conversation
Goals, target audience, scope: 30 to 60 minutes. Afterwards you should get a quote with a fixed price, not an open-ended hourly rate.
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02
Design
What will the homepage look like? A reputable provider shows you this before the real work begins. Duration: a few days.
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03
Content
Text, photos, logo. This is where most projects get stuck, because the content has to come from your business. Agree in advance who will write the text.
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04
Build
Building the pages, adapting them for mobile, the legal notice and privacy policy, the basics for Google. Duration: one to three weeks.
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05
Launch and aftercare
The site goes live. After that it needs updates, small changes and someone you can reach when something isn’t working.
BEFORE YOU SIGN
The 7 questions to ask a web designer
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01
Will I see a design before I pay?
Anyone who wants money before the first design carries no risk themselves. Ask whether you get to see the homepage before you commit.
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02
Is it a fixed price, and what’s included?
Get in writing exactly what the price covers: how many pages, who writes the text, the legal notice and privacy policy, setting up the domain and hosting.
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03
What will the website cost me after launch?
Hosting, domain, maintenance, changes: running costs belong on the table before you sign. With subscription models, also ask: how long is the minimum term, and what happens after it?
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04
Who’s my point of contact, even after launch?
A name and a phone number are worth more than a ticket system. Ask how quickly small changes get done.
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05
Is the site tested on a phone?
Most visitors browse on their phones. Ask to see the site on a phone, not just on the big screen in the office.
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06
Can I visit real client websites?
A design in a presentation proves nothing. Ask for web addresses you can open yourself, and look at them on your phone.
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07
What’s already built in for Google?
Page titles, descriptions, clean headings, fast loading and the link to your Google Business Profile should be part of the package. Anyone who guarantees you the top spot is promising too much.
These questions work with any provider. Our answers: a free homepage design up front, a fixed-price guarantee, one dedicated contact with a phone number. See our packages
THE OPTIONS
Website builder, small studio or large agency?
All three have their place. What matters is how much time you can put in yourself and how many people have a say.
| Website builder | Small studio | Large agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | from about €10 a month, plus your time | from a few hundred euros, at a fixed price | often several thousand euros |
| Who builds the site? | you do | one dedicated person | a team |
| Point of contact | help pages and support | always the same person | a project manager, often a new one |
| Best for | a small budget and plenty of your own time | businesses that want one person for everything | large projects with many people involved |
AND THE COST?
What a website costs
With us, a one-page website costs from €500, and a website with up to ten pages from €1,490. There is a detailed cost guide on our plain-version site (in German): What does a website cost? The price calculator shows you which package suits you.
Not sure whether your current site needs replacing at all? Then the free website check is the right first step.